Let me share a story that many of you might have heard before. I hope it will help you reflect on what is most important to you and encourage you to focus your time and energy on these crucial matters.
A teacher walked into the classroom and placed a glass jar on the table. He silently began placing two-inch-sized rocks into the jar until it could hold no more. He asked the class if the jar was full, and they all said it was. He replied, "Really?" and then took out a pile of small pebbles, added them to the jar, and gently shook it until the pebbles filled the gaps between the rocks. He asked again, "Is the jar full now?" The students agreed. Next, he poured some sand into the jar, filling the spaces between the pebbles and rocks. He then asked the same question. This time, the class was divided; some believed the jar was clearly full, while others suspected the teacher might have another trick up his sleeve. The teacher then took a bottle of iced tea and filled the jar to the brim, asking once more, "Is the jar truly full now?" This time, the students unanimously agreed, "Teacher, the jar can't possibly hold anything more." The teacher then pulled out a can of whipped cream and topped off the jar.
As the students discussed the unexpected elements in the experiment, the teacher asked them, "If this jar represents your life, what does this experiment tell you?" One student replied, "No matter how busy you think you are, you can always take on more." The teacher responded, "That's a good perspective." He then explained to the class, "The rocks represent the most important things in your life—the things you will cherish at the end of your life—like your family, health, and the realization of your dreams and hopes. The pebbles are also important, but slightly less so compared to the rocks; these are the driving forces of your life, such as your job, assets, and hobbies. The sand represents the 'small things' that fill up our lives, like watching TV, browsing the internet, chatting, or shopping. The iced tea represents the enjoyable moments you share with friends, making everything you have more meaningful."
The teacher then looked around the room and asked, "What would happen if I started with the sand or pebbles?" The students responded, "The rocks, which represent the most important things in life, wouldn't fit in the jar." The teacher was pleased with their answer and praised them: "It seems you understand why it's important to prioritize the things in your life based on their significance. If you only focus on the 'small things,' you'll end up losing the things you should cherish, and you'll miss out on living a rich and fulfilling life."
As the teacher was about to conclude the lesson, a student reminded him, "Teacher, you haven't explained the purpose of the whipped cream." The teacher smiled and explained, "Luck and blessings are like the whipped cream that the heavens give to everyone. With it, your life will be sweeter. But we can't expect to fill our lives solely with whipped cream. Without effort and dedication, luck and blessings will be as insubstantial as whipped cream, ultimately leaving you with nothing."